Add-on housing

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a mounting housing for example or circular connectors. For a convenient pre-assembly of the mounting housing it includes an access opening which can be closed by a cover. The cover is hooked in a housing body of the mounting housing on one side and is secured at the housing body via a retaining nut, with the cover in conjunction with a seal arranged in the area of the access opening sealing same. In addition, a vibration protection is provided in that the cover includes a contoured area which in the screwed on condition is urged by the retaining nut against a corresponding area of the housing body. The mounting housing also includes a mounting flange which is formed at the housing body in such a manner that an installation and removal of the mounting housing at corresponding mounting surfaces is possible after the pre-assembly of the mounting housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting housing for electricaland/or optical conductors, fluid lines, and mechanical components, suchas e.g. articulated shafts or Bowden cables. The invention relates inparticular to an angled mounting housing which, in the pre-assembledcondition, can be attached at a corresponding mounting surface, with acover which can easily be locked with the body of the mounting housingbeing used for the access to the feed-through of same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to attach for example connectors for electrical and/or opticalconductors at a casing of a switchgear cabinet, so-called mountinghousings are used. The mounting housings are attached at an externalsurface of the switchgear cabinet casing and comprise a feed-throughwhich is communicating with the interior of the switchgear cabinet. Thefeed-through serves to guide electrical and/or optical conductors fromthe switchgear cabinet to a connector which is installed at the mountinghousing. Mounting housings are required in particular if connectors forswitchgear cabinets are to be provided which are not to be arrangedperpendicular to a respective surface of the switchgear cabinet. Inthese cases, angled e.g. angled by 90°, and curved mounting housings areused.

For pre-assembly of the mounting housings, these can comprise accessopening to the feed-throughs, which can be closed by means of covers.Usually, such covers are screwed to the body of a mounting housing inorder to tightly seal the access opening, partly under using suitablesealing elements. It is also known to secure such covers at the body ofthe mounting housing by means of suitable locking or snap-actionconnections.

From DE 34 03 774 A1 an angular line lead-in with a closing part whichis pivotably linked in the area of a face at the outer edge is known. Inorder to maintain the closing part in its locked position, a snap isprovided at its other face. This snap is constituted by a projectionformed at an angle leg of the line lead-in and a groove formed in theclosing part, with which the projection engages upon closing the closingpart.

This approach impedes the removal of the cover if, for example, anaccess is required to the feed-through of the, mounting housing formaintenance work. In this case, the removal of a cover is generally notpossible without special tools. When using screwed covers additionaltools are already required for closing the access opening.

In addition, it is generally not possible to attach a mounting housinge.g. to a switchgear cabinet before the mounting housing has beenpre-assembled with corresponding electrical and/or optical conductorsand/or connectors.

Similar problems result if mounting housings are used for (flexible)fluid lines, mechanical components such as e.g. articulated shafts orBowden cables and the like, for guiding same (in an angled fashion) outof the housing of a corresponding device. From DE 297 07 529 U1 a cablefeed-through is known which can be attached at a cable and at a housingwhich accommodates the wires of the cable in its inner space. Forsecuring the cable feed-through at the housing, one end of the cablefeed-through comprises a flange with holes formed therein.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mounting housingfor the mentioned components to be guided by means of a mountinghousing, which can readily be pre-assembled, permits a convenient accessto the inner space of the mounting housing at any time, and whichenables a tight sealing of the access opening to the inner space of themounting housing, or its clearing, respectively, without special tools.Moreover, the invention is to provide a mounting housing which in thepre-assembled condition can be attached at a corresponding mountingsurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the invention provides a mounting housing forelectrical and/or optical conductors, fluid lines, mechanical componentssuch as e.g. articulated shafts or Bowden cables, and the like. Theinventive mounting housing comprises a housing body, a feed-throughextending through the housing body, an access opening to thefeed-through through the housing body, a cover movably connected withthe housing body for closing and clearing the access opening, and aretaining means for securing the cover in its closed condition at thehousing by means of a clamping connection.

The cover comprises in particular an extended area which in the closedcondition of the cover is secured (clamped) between the retaining meansand the housing body.

In order to improve the secureness of the cover the housing bodycomprises a contact area for the extended area of the cover, with theseareas being preferably formed in a positive manner. This positive fitbetween the extended area and the contact area improves the clampingeffect of the retaining means in the secured condition of the cover.

In addition, the extended area of the cover may comprise a, contouredarea which, for example, may be provided with recesses (longitudinalgrooves, transverse grooves) formed in the cover. If the extended areais elastically deformable at least in the contoured area, the extendedarea additionally serves as a vibration protection for the cover.

In order to tightly seal the access opening in the closed condition ofthe cover a sealing element (e.g. an O-ring) is, arranged in the area ofthe access opening. If the sealing element is elastic so that it iselastically deformable with the cover in the closed and securedcondition due to an active connection with same, the forces which arethereby generated and act on the cover contribute to the secureness ofthe cover.

As the retaining means a retaining nut or a sleeve which can be slidonto the housing body can be used. In the case of using a retaining nut,the housing body comprises a thread for fastening same. In this case, itis provided that the thread for the retaining nut is spaced in thelongitudinal direction of the feed-through from the contact area or thatin encompasses the contact area.

In the case of a slide-on retaining sleeve, this is to be secured on thehousing body so that it will not be moved e.g. due to the elastic forcesgenerated by the sealing element in the area of the access openingand/or the extended area of the cover. For this purpose, lockingelements and/or clamping elements may be formed at the housing body.Examples for the locking elements are structures or components which aresuitable for the manufacture of engaging or snap-action connections orcomponents for bayonet joints. As clamping elements, for examplewedge-shaped structures formed at the housing body can be used.

In order to secure the retaining sleeve in a removable manner at thehousing body, the locking elements and/or the clamping elements can becorrespondingly movable and/or elastically deformable. Here, it is alsopossible to use an elastically deformable retaining sleeve which forreleasing its secure position at the housing body is elasticallydeformed.

In order to be able to attach the mounting housing at a correspondingmounting surface also in the pre-assembled condition, the housing bodycomprises a mounting flange at a first end, with holes formed throughit. In particular, the holes of the mounting flange are arranged in sucha manner that they can be accessed also in the closed condition of thecover in order to insert e.g. fastening screws.

Alternatively or additionally, the housing body may comprise locking orsnap-action elements at its first end, which in the closed condition ofthe cover, can be actuated for installation and removal of the mountinghousing.

In an embodiment, the cover is movably hooked in the housing body bymeans of structures (e.g. projections forming a hinge) formed at thecover and the housing body, preferably at its first end. Thisconstruction permits a simple manufacture of the mounting housing, withthe additional possibility, for example for pre-assembling the mountinghousing, to remove the cover from the housing body (unhook it). Thismovable connection can also be made by means of shafts and/or pins whichare in active connection with the cover and the housing body whereby, onthe one hand, a removal of cover becomes more difficult but, on theother hand, the stability of its connection with the housing body isimproved.

In addition, the housing body may comprise fastening elements at asecond end opposite the first end for fastening devices to be arrangedat the mounting housing. Examples for such devices are connectors forelectrical and/or optical conductors, connections for fluid lines andthe like. Depending on the devices to be arranged, these fasteningelements of the housing body may be threads, snap-action and/or lockingelements, or structures for bayonet joints formed thereon.

For securing the retaining means the mounting housing comprisescomponents which prevent a removal of the retaining means. Preferably,these securing components for the retaining means comprise a grooveformed in the housing body and an O-ring which can be installed at thehousing body in an active connection with the groove. The O-ring isdimensioned in such a manner that the retaining means cannot be removedfrom the housing body. In addition, such an O-ring also serves as asealing element and vibration protection for any of the previouslymentioned devices which can be arranged at the housing body.

Preferably, the housing body is a curved or angled (e.g. by 90°) body,with the possibility of also using an oblong housing body, if an accessis to be made to its feed-through in the area of the connection with therespective mounting surface.

It is provided that the feed-through through the housing body has anessentially round or rectangular cross-section, with the housing body,in particular in the case of using a retaining nut, having a roundcross-section at least in the area of the thread in the longitudinaldirection of the feed-through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the description of preferred embodiments reference is made to theaccompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of aninventive mounting housing;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective views of the mounting housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the mounting housing of FIG. 1 in theassembled condition;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the mounting housing of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows another side view of the mounting housing of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 7a-7 d show further embodiments of inventive mounting housings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The mounting housing 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises a housing body 2angled by 90°, through which a conductor feed-through (not identified)extends between openings 4 and 6. The conductor feed-through has anessentially round cross-section and serves to accommodate conductors forelectrical and/or optical signals. As mentioned, the mounting housing 1can also be used for the accommodation of other lines and components,such as e.g. fluid lines, Bowden cables, and articulated shafts.

At its end in the area of the opening 4 the housing body 2 comprises amounting flange 8 and a shoulder 10 formed thereon. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the mounting flange 8 has an essentially rectangularcross-section and comprises one hole 12 each in its corner areas. Themounting flange 8 and its holes 12 serve to secure the mounting housing1 on a surface, e.g. of an electrical switchgear cabinet. In the area ofthe opening 4 the shoulder 10 has a cross-section which essentiallycorresponds to the cross-section of the cable feed-through (notidentified) and, upon an installation of the mounting housing 1, isinserted into an opening in the surface at which the mounting housing 1is to be attached. In order to seal the transition between the mountinghousing 1 and the corresponding mounting surface the bottom surface ofthe mounting flange 8 (FIG. 1) and/or the outer circumferential surfaceof the shoulder 10 may comprise a seal. The seal may be provided in theform of an O-ring, a coating, a flat seal and the like, and depending onthe selected type of seal, can also serve as vibration protection.

For pre-assembling the mounting housing 1, i.e. for arranging conductorsin its conductor through-feed, the housing body 2 comprises an accessopening 14 in its angled area, which due to the cross-section of thecable feed-through has an essentially round cross-section. Depending onthe cross-section selected for the cable feed-through, the accessopening 14 may have other cross-sectional shapes. In the area of thecircumference of the access opening 14 an O-ring 16 is arranged as aseal.

For clearing and closing the access opening 14, a cover 18 is used whichis hooked in the area of the face shown as upper face in FIG. 1 of themounting flange 8. For this purpose, the projections 20 and 22 formed atthe cover 18 and the mounting flange 8 are provided. In lieu of theprojections 20 and 22 which are formed to be oblong as can be seen fromFIG. 3 and serve as a hinge for moving the cover 3, shafts or pins (notshown) can be used which are guided through corresponding openings orbrackets (not shown).

The cover 18 comprises a so-called vibration protection 24 or anextended are at its end opposite the projection 20, which is formed byan extension formed at the cover 18. As can best be seen from FIG. 3,the vibration protection 24 has a contoured area 26 at its outersurface. The contoured area 26 comprises longitudinal grooves formed inthe vibration protection 24, with provisions being made to also usetransverse grooves or other structures which may also be arranged atboth outer surfaces of the vibration protection 24 as long as thefunction of the vibration protection 24, which will be described in thefollowing, is provided.

In an area of its outer circumferential surface which is shown as anupper surface in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the housing body 2 comprises apressure surface 28. The pressure surface 28 serves as a counter bearingfor the vibration protection 24 when the cover 18 for closing the accessopening 14 is moved in such a manner that it contacts the housing body2. In the closed condition of the cover 18 the O-ring 16 seals theaccess opening 14. For securing the cover 18 in its closed condition aretaining nut 30 is used which is screwed on the housing body 2 by meansof a thread 32.

The retaining nut 30 and/or the thread 32 are designed in such a mannerthat the vibration protection 24 is clamped between the retaining nut 30and the pressure surface 28 or a contact area 28 when the retaining nut30 is screwed on the housing body 2. This closed or assembled condition,respectively, of the mounting housing 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5,and 6. A vibration protection for the mounting housing 1, or to be moreprecise, for the cover 18, is provided by the vibration protection 24being clamped between the retaining nut 30 and the pressure surface 28,and in particular by its contoured area 26. In the simplest case theretaining nut 30 is screwed on the housing body 2 until the contouredarea 26 contacts the thread (not shown) arranged at the innercircumferential surface of the retaining nut 30. It is also possible touse retaining nuts which comprise an area on the inner circumferentialsurface without thread, which in the screwed on condition urges thevibration protection 24 against the pressure surface 28. This, however,requires special retaining nuts but permits to design the thread 32shorter in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding area of thehousing body 2 and/or to arrange it at a shorter distance from theopening 6.

Due to the use of the retaining nut 30 for securing the cover 18 in itsclosed condition no additional tools are required, In addition, thisincreases the tolerances to be maintained by the rotatable connection ofthe cover 18 with the housing body 2 because the screwed on retainingnut 30 urges the cover 18 in such a manner against the O-ring 16 thatthe access opening 14 is tightly sealed. The installation of the cover18 at the housing body 2 can also be performed without additional toolsbecause the cover 18 under using the projections 20 and 22 is simplyhooked in the housing body 2. With the above mentioned possible use of arotation axis (e.g. in the form of a pin or split-pin) the assembly anddisassembly of the cover 18 can also be performed without additionalauxiliary means because, as described above, no special tolerances mustbe maintained for the rotatable connection of the cover 18 with thehousing body 2.

For arranging further devices, e.g. a plug-and-socket connection forcables, at the mounting housing 1, the housing body 2 comprises a thread34 at its end adjacent to the opening 6. In order to provide a sealedconnection between a device screwed on the housing body 2 and thehousing body 2, a groove 36 is formed in the housing body 2, whichserves as a seat for an O-ring 38. For securing a device (e.g.plug-and-socket connection) at the mounting housing 1, for example acoupling ring (not shown) can be used which is screwed on the thread 34and sealingly contacts the O-ring 38. In addition to the sealingfunction of the O-ring 38 thereby provided, the O-ring 38 whencorrespondingly dimensioned prevents the loss of the retaining nut 30.The O-ring 38 also serves as a vibration protection for a devicearranged (screwed on) at the housing body 2.

Another advantage of the mounting housing 1 is that it can be arrangedon a mounting surface (not shown) for the mounting flange 8 also afterpre-assembly, for example with a plug-and-socket connection which isscrewed on by using the thread 34. As can be seen from FIG. 5, themounting flange 8 is formed in such a manner that the holes 12 areaccessible in the assembled condition of the mounting housing 1 in orderto insert corresponding fastening elements (e.g. screws, rivets).

In lieu of the holes 12 locking or snap-action elements (not shown)formed at the mounting flange 8 can be used which in active connectionwith a corresponding structure arranged at the mounting surface for themounting flange 8 provide a locking or snap-action connection for themounting housing 1. For releasing such a snap-action connection in theassembled condition of the mounting housing 1, suitableelements/structures for the snap-action elements (not shown) of themounting flange 8 are to be arranged like the holes 12 in areas whichcan be accessed in the condition of the mounting body 1 shown in FIG. 5.

In a similar manner, other suitable connection structures (e.g. lockingor snap-action elements, elements for bayonet joints) can be usedinstead of the thread 34 for arranging further devices (e.g.connectors).

With reference to FIGS. 7a-7 d further embodiments of the mountinghousing will be explained. Contrary to the mounting housing 1illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the mounting housing 30 shown in FIG. 7acomprises a cable feed-through (not identified) which has a greatercross-section in the area extending towards the opening 4 than in thearea extending towards the opening 6. Thereby an access opening 14 canbe provided which is larger than the access opening 14 shown in FIGS.1-6. Such an enlarged access opening 14 may be required depending oncomponents (not shown) to be arranged in the mounting housing 1, or atleast facilitate their arrangement.

In addition, the rotatable connection/the hinge for the cover 18 canalso be arranged in an area of the housing body 2 in which in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 the pressure surface 28 is arranged.Accordingly, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7b the pressure surface 28is arranged in an area of the outer circumferential surface of thehousing body 2 adjacent to the opening 4. As described above, theretaining nut 30 in conjunction with a thread corresponding to thethread 32 serves to secure the cover 18 at the housing body 2. In orderto arrange the retaining nut 30 at the housing body 2 the mountingflange 8 must be formed later in the manufacture of the mounting housing1. In this case, in particular, the obvious solution would be to usesuitable locking or snap-action elements instead of the mounting flange8, as described above.

Moreover, it is provided to use a curved housing body (FIG. 7c) or anoblong housing body (FIG. 7d) instead of an angled housing body. With acurved housing body, it is of particular importance that thecorresponding area for the arrangement of the retaining nut 30 issuitably designed. The use of an oblong housing body for the mountinghousing may be required if the inner space of same is to be accessedwithout having to disassemble the mounting housing from e.g. aswitchgear cabinet or to remove devices (e.g. connectors) attached atthe mounting housing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting housing (1) for electrical conductorsoptical conductors, fluid lines, mechanical components such asarticulated shafts of Bowden cables comprising: a housing body (2), afeed-through extending through the housing body (2), an access opening(14) to the feed-through of the housing body (2), a cover (18) movablyconnected with the housing body (2) for closing and clearing the accessopening (14), the cover including an extended area (24) and a retainingmeans (30) for securing the cover (18) in its closed condition, theretaining means (30) cooperating with the extended area (24) to securecover (18) in said closed condition.
 2. The mounting housing accordingto claim 1, characterised in that the extended area (24) in the closedcondition of the cover (18) is secured between the retaining means (30)and the housing body (2).
 3. The mounting housing according to claim 2,characterised in that the housing body (2) comprises a contact area (28)which is formed for a positive contact with the extended area (24) ofthe cover (18), and the extended area (24) of the cover (18) in theclosed condition of the cover (18) is secured between the retainingmeans (30) and the contact area (28).
 4. The mounting housing accordingto claim 2, characterised in that the extended area (24) includes acontoured area (26) which comprises recesses formed in the cover (18).5. The mounting housing according to claim 4, characterised in that thecontoured area (26).
 6. The mounting housing according to claim 1,characterised in that an elastic sealing element (16) is arranged in thearea of the access opening (14), which in the closed and securedcondition of the cover (18) is elastically deformed due to an activeconnection with same.
 7. The mounting housing according to claim 1,characterised in that the retaining means (30) is a retaining nut, andthe housing body,(2) comprises a thread (32) for installing theretaining means (30).
 8. The mounting housing according to claim 7,characterised in that the thread (32) is spaced in the longitudinaldirection of the feed-through from the contact area (28) or encompassesthe contact area (28).
 9. The mounting housing according to claim 7,characterised in that the housing body (2) has a round cross-section atleast in the area of the thread (32).
 10. The mounting housing accordingto claim 1, characterised in that the retaining means (30) is aretaining sleeve which can be slid on the housing body (2).
 11. Themounting housing according to claim 10, characterised in that thehousing body (2) comprises locking elements or clamping elements forreleasably securing the retaining sleeve.
 12. The mounting housingaccording to claim 10, characterised in that the retaining sleeve iselastically deformable for releasing its secured position at the housingbody (2).
 13. The mounting housing according to claim 1, characterisedin that the housing body (2) comprises a mounting flange (8) at a firstend with holes (12) formed therein which can be accessed in the closedcondition of the cover (18).
 14. The mounting housing according to claim1, characterised in that the housing body (2) comprises locking elementsat a first end which can be actuated in the closed condition of thecover (18).
 15. The mounting housing according to claim 1, characterisedin that the cover (18) is movably hooked in the housing body (2) byusing structures (20,22) formed at the cover (18) and the housing body(2), or the cover (18) is movably connected with the housing body (2) bymeans of shafts or pins being in active connection with the cover 18 andthe housing body(2).
 16. The mounting housing according to claim 1,characterised in that the housing body (2) comprises fastening elements(34) at a second end opposite the first end for devices to be arrangedat the housing body (2).
 17. The mounting housing according to claim 1,characterised in that the housing body (2) is an angled, curved, oroblong body.
 18. The mounting housing according to claim 1,characterised in that the feed-through through the housing body (2) hasan essentially round or rectangular cross-section.